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Roarer Ryan posted some lateral thinking yesterday, suggesting Wallaby inside centre Matt Toomua should switch to the forwards.
He went even further by suggesting the current backrow should be Toomua (6), Michael Hooper (7), and Liam Gill (8).
Ryan was taken to the cleaners by co-Roarers, with the main criticism the lack of size.
Is that the way rugby is heading, the quantity of size over the quality of ability?
Should the front row be around 190cms and 130kgs with broad shoulders, and a bull neck?
The locks 203cms and 135kgs, with the backrow 193cms and 120kgs, and the back five all capable of running near even time for the 100 metres?
What about the back division – halfback apart – should they be around 195cms and 110kgs, and capable of even time for the 100?
That would be one hell of a man-power team, but it will never happen in the foreseeable future.
Let’s stick with the Wallabies we’ve got, and try to emulate the feats of their predecessors.
Like the silky skills of Mark Ella (1980-84), the most intuitive and inventive footballer I’ve ever seen in any code, with his ability to ghost through what seemed impregnable defence, and always at the ready to look for support.
Phil Hawthorne (62-67) wasn’t far behind.
The hands of Ella, and John Brass (66-68), I never saw either of them drop a pass for Randwick, Sydney, NSW, or the Wallabies, and Brass was the same as a Kangaroo.
The bullet passes of a Ken Catchpole (61-68), Nick Farr-Jones (84-93), John Hipwell (68-82) and Cyril Burke (46-56).
The mid-field skills of a Trevor Allan (46-49), Tim Horan ((89-98), John Solomon (49-55), Jimmy Lisle (1961), and Jason Little (89-98).
The boot of a Dick Tooth (51-57), Roger Gould (80-87), Jim Lenehan (57-67), and Laurie Monaghan (73-79).
The finishing skills of a David Campese (82-96), Brendan Moon (78-86), and Mike Cleary (1961).
The run around support play of an Ella, Michael Hawker (80-87), and Michael O’Connor (79-83) – watching these three together was one of rugby’s magic eras.
The utility value of a Lenehan, Rod Phelps (58-62), and Tooth.
The devastating tackling of an Allan, Tooth, Col Windon (46-52), Simon Poidevin (80-91), Jules Guerassimoff (63-67), Mark Loane (73-82), and Willie Ofahengaue (90-98).
The tenacity of a Tony Miller (52-67), Jon White (58-62), and Peter Johnson (59-71).
The lineout skills of Rob Heming (61-67), without peer as a jumper in an era of non-lifting. He could clap his hands above the crossbar from a standing start.
The mauling skills of Roy Prosser (67-72) with daylight second. Not too swift around the park, Prosser would often be last into the maul, and first out with ball in hand.
The leadership qualities of an Allan, John Thornett (55-67), Catchpole, Farr-Jones, John Eales (93-01), and Andrew Slack (76-87).
The coaching skills of a Rod Macqueen, Alan Jones, and Bobby Dwyer.
And I’ve left the most telling of all until last – the front row combinations of Andy McIntyre, Tommy Lawton, and Topo Rodríguez to capture the 1984 Grand Slam, and Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns, and Tony Daly the 1991 Rugby World Cup, both outstanding.
So why hasn’t McKenzie got his current front row up to speed?
Answer? McKenzie hasn’t the cattle.
While the Wallabies aren’t able to match their above mentioned greats, they can still be expected to play at the best they can offer.
Let’s see how that pans out tonight in Turin.